INFORMATION CHAPTER 5
“OTHER” or “ELSE”
When comparing something to everything else of its own kind, you use
“other” or “else.” When comparing one person or object with the other
members of the group to which it belongs, you use “other” or “else.” .
Incorrect Sentence: Joan is prettier than anyone in her family.
Explanation: It is illogical to think that Joan can be prettier than anyone in her family when she
is part of that family. It is like saying that she is prettier than herself.
Correct Sentence: Joan is prettier than anyone else in her family.
Incorrect Sentence: Peter works harder than any boy in his group.
Explanation: It is illogical to think that Peter can work harder than anyone in his group when he
is part of that group. It is like saying that he is working harder than himself.
Correct Sentence: Peter works harder than any other boy in his group.
Incorrect Sentence: Jamie received better grades than anyone in his class.
Explanation: It is illogical to think that Jamie can receive better grades than anyone in his class
when he is part of that class. It is like saying that he is receiving better grades than himself.
Correct Sentence: Jamie receive better grades than anyone else in his class.
More examples:
Our London office earns more revenue than any of our other international branch offices. (Not
any of our international branch offices)
Andrew is more diligent than anyone else in the class. (Not anyone in the class)
DOUBLE NEGATIVES
Use only one negative word or limiting adverbs to express a single idea.
Do not release information about students to anybody. (Not nobody)
I did not receive anything from our insurance agent. (Not nothing)
I can (not can’t or cannot) scarcely believe that our college president would make such a
statement.
We were (not weren’t or were not) hardly in the office when Ms. Smith gave us the good news.
He had (not hadn’t or had not) barely finished computing the results when the Board of
Directors requested him to report his findings.
ADJECTIVE COMPARISON
1. Adjectives may be used to compare two or more nouns or pronouns.
a. COMPARATIVE form (-“er” or more, less) to compare 2 persons or things
b. SUPERLATIVE form (-“est” or most, least) to compare 3 or more persons or things
2. Most one-syllable adjectives ending in e add r for the comparative and “st” for the
superlative.
SIMPLE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
nice
nicer
nicest
fine
finer
finest
tame
tamer
tamest
large
larger
largest
3. Most one-syllable adjectives ending in consonants add “er” for the comparative and “est” for
the superlative, but some double the final consonant before adding “er” or “est.”
a. Some one-syllable adjectives ending in a consonant
SIMPLE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
short
shorter
shortest
sweet
sweeter
sweetest
mild
milder
mildest
proud
prouder
prouder
b. Some one-syllable adjectives ending in a consonant—double the consonant
SIMPLE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
big
bigger
biggest
sad
sadder
saddest
trim
trimmer
trimmest
drab
drabber
drabbest
4. Most two-syllable adjectives and all adjectives containing three or more syllabus use more or
less and most and least to construct comparative and superlative forms. Forms for those twosyllable adjectives that do not follow this pattern are shown in the dictionary after their
simple form. These words include costly, friendly, happy, healthy, kindly, merry, lovely,
pretty—all ending in y.
a. Two-syllable adjective with more, most, less, or least
SIMPLE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
superb
more superb
most superb
useful
more useful
most useful
suitable
more suitable
most suitable
b. Three-syllable adjective with more, most, less, or least
SIMPLE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
comprehensive more comprehensive
most comprehensive
practical
more practical
most practical
expensive
more expensive
most expensive
c. Two-syllable adjective using “er” or “est”
SIMPLE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
costly
costlier
costliest
lonely
lonelier
loneliest
heavy
heavier
heaviest
5. Irregular forms for adjective comparisons appear in the dictionary. They are listed after the
simple forms. A list of commonly used irregular adjective forms follows:
SIMPLE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
bad, ill
worse
worst
good, well
better
best
far
farther, further
farthest, furthest
little
littler, less
littlest, least
many, much
more
most
6. Some adjectives cannot be compared in the regular sense because they are absolute. A
partial list of such adjectives follows: alive, finished, round complete, full, straight, dead,
perfect, unique
7. Absolute adjectives may show comparison by use of the forms “more nearly” or “most
nearly.”
SIMPLE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
full
more nearly full (not fuller)
most nearly full (not fullest)
accurate
more nearly accurate (not more accurate)
most nearly accurate
(not most accurate)
ADVERB COMPARISON
1. One-syllable adverbs and some two-syllable adverbs are compared by adding “er” or “est.”
For comparisons between two items, use “er”; for comparisons among more than two items,
use “est.”
a. Comparison of two
i. You live closer to the library than I..
ii. My assistant left earlier than I.
b. Comparison of more than two
i. Of all the students in the study group, you live the closest to the library.
ii. Who is scheduled to arrive the earliest—Bill, Paula, or Bob?
2. Most adverbs containing two syllables and all adverbs containing more than two syllables
from the comparison by adding more or most (or less or least) to the positive form. Use
more (or less) in comparing two items and most (or least) in comparing more than two
items.
a. Comparisons of two
i. This conveyer belt travels more slowly than the one next to it.
ii. Please pack these items more carefully than you have done in the past.
iii. Surf soap is less widely used on the East Coast than in the South.
b. Comparisons of more than two
i. Denver has been mentioned most often as the likely site for our next
convention.
ii. This conference is the most unusually conducted one I have ever attended.
iii. This brand of soap is the least widely used of all the major brands.